Store



H. P. HOWARD.

STORE.

APPLlcATloN FILED Nov. 3o. 1921. y

Patented Nov.

14, 19221. -sHEE a.

3 SHEETS @noma/tez rv. Y #a CD v ` APPuc'Amu msn hoy. 3o. 192|.

www

Pafend NOV. 14, 1922.#

STORE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 192i.

.Patented Nov. 14, 1922;.v

Fatented Nov. 14, 1922.l

Has'rINo ieg-HOWARD, or MEMPH'IS, TENNESSEE, AssIoNon or DONE-HALF 'ro ALBERT s. oook, Jn., orlMEMrHIs, TENNESSEE. l f

" STORE.

Application filed November 30,1921. Serial No. 518,904.

To all whom, amai/ concern n i Beit known that I, HasfriNe 1?.,HowARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelbyy and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inl Stores,l of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to store equipment i and-,has for itsobject the provision of means whereby customers maybe served without being under the necessity of entering ythe building and also to provide means whereby customers who may preferA 'may enter the building and select articles 'without'requiring the services of a largenuinberof `attendants, the articles selected being paid for at a settlement station located-.within the store room. yThe invention l.also provides novel` means whereby 1 Customers desiringla `particular article may be served at the outslde of the building.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-` .i

Figure'l is aperspective view ofv astore, room equipped '1n accordance with my `1n vention; .n

UFig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation ofthe means for supplying customersvat a window; v

Fig. Bis enlargedperspective View,r of y thelcash carrier'` and the means forv operat- .Inthe drawings, the reference numeral 1 L indicates the front wallof a store room` which front wall may beof any .desired architectural structure provided that itcbe equipped with a series of sales windows 2.

`erit-ending across thefront ofr the building ata proper height from the ground.; As shown more particularly in Fig. vl, the building is providedwith an entrance 3 and within the store room spaced from the front wall thereof, .is a transverse partition 4., Ati the center kof the partition 4t is a d esk or counter 5 which constitutes a settlement station where customers may pay a cashier for theirv selections, the desk or counter beii'ig entered through a gate 6 which may be ofany of` fire or" other Also larranged adjacent'each delivery chute convenient or preferred manner.

preferred` formf l teach side rof the desk is a turnstile 7 which will permitegress of v, Customers, and-adjacent one side wall of f the store vroom.- an entrance 8 is provided, preferably in the form .ofa vestibule door disposed between the adjacent exit turnstile 7andthe yside wall of the room. At the op4` 4ositejend ofthe partition 4, a turnstile 9 isyprovidedv to constitute van additional exit and disposed parallel .withI the'adj acont side wallfof the room is la longitudinal partition or rail 10 which, `with the `side wall of the room, defines a hall. orpassageway leading tothe said turnstile, 9.'y One or more gates 1l may be providedfin the-partition to fa`` cilitate exit from the store room inthe event y emergency'. Disposed transversely of the store room adjacent but iniy rear of the vcashiersdesk 5 `is aV basket rack 12 which includes a shelf 13 inclined downwardly toward the 'entranceS so that baskets placedupon the Asaid shelf willi gravitatetoward the entrance aisle `where theymay be `readilylreached'by enteringv customers-f V, y

Uponreference toFig's;A 1 yand 2, it will be noted that a shelf or counterlfidis provided at the 'rear of the'windows 2 and supported by the said shelfor counter and byA suitable brackets 15 extending `from the ceiling of the store room are delivery chutes 16,*it being the intentionvto lprovide one of these tchutes leading frein va point convenient to the cashiers desk to ieach --of the fwindows 2.

16 and extendingbetweenthe cashiers'desk 'and-the windowl 2 which is served by the respective chutepl provide altrack 17 lupon which acash carrier 18 isadapted to travel. As' showninostf clearly in Fig. 3, the track 17 consists of similar vertically spaced wires or rods bent intermediate their 'ends to vforni vangularly disposedbranches or arms. Thesevv rods or stout -wires arergidly connected adjacent their bends by a brace 19 andthey are 100v also connected; aty their extremities in any p v In the drawingfthe lfro'nt ends of the rods are ,connected integrally lby a 4loight 2()` while` their flrear ends4 are. connected by a clos` 1054 linglplate 21 litt-ed uponthe ends of the rods uand secured thereon-by any vconvenient or preferred means, `such as nuts or r rivets.` Each track is supported by a plate 22 pivoted at 22a toabracket or -hanger 22 `depend- 1 10 posed immediately adjacent and over the cashiers desk, while the iront end thereof is disposed immediately adjacent the serving window 2, as is shown 1n F 1g. 2. Attached to the front end of the track is a cable orV other exible connection 23 which extends from the track up Vto and over a pulley 24 supported upon the ceiling or the front wall of the building, rand from said pulley the connection 23 `passes downwardly to the counter or shellA 14 where it may be 2grasped through the window 2. as will be readily understood. Fitted to the track between the upper and lower rods or members thereolE is a flanged roller 25, the port-ion ot theroller between its flanges riding upon the lower member of the track while the flanges engage the sides of the track members and thereby prevent accidental removal of `the roller from the track. Hung upon the axle of the roller 25 is a bracket or carrying' arm 26, to the free end of which is attached a box or other container 27 in which the customer may deposit money to pay for his purchase. It will be understood that cert-ain articles or groups of articles may be `wrapped into bundles ready for delivery and deposited in the delivery chutes, each chute bearing a placard or other announcement whereby prospective customers will be informed of the character of the articles which may be obtained from any particular chute and the price to be paid for the same. A customer finding an announcement `of particular articles sought by him will deposit the price of the same in the box or container 27 and by then pulling upon the cable 23 will raise the front end of the trackil so that the track will tilt about the pivot 22 and cause its inner rear end to move downwardly where it may be reached by the attendant at the cashiers counter. This shifting of the track 1T will cause the cash carrierto roll down the track to the stop or connectingl plate 21 where the money may be removed by the cashier and change made if necessary.v rlhe cashier will then release the bundle or article in the dclivery chute which will thereupon slide out onto the counter orsheli 14 and may be reremoved by the customer throughlthe window 2.

To control .the delivery of articles in the respective chutes' 16, each chute is equipped at its front or delivery end with cutofs or valves which will prevent the passage o1" the bundles or articles until they are released at the cashiers desk. ln Fig. 2, bundles placed in the chute are shown at 28 and they are preferably separated by ydivision blocks or spacers 29 so that the cutotfs or valves will be Vprevented from striking the rto the cashiers desk,

rasa-ses of the same and plays through an opening 33 in the top of the chute, a link 34 connecting the upper end of this cutoff with the front end of the lever 3l., as clearly shown. A. similar plate 35 is connected by a link 36 with the lever 3l adjacent the rear end thereof and this p-late 35 is adapted to extend across the chute in the same manner that the liront cutoff plate 32 extends across the'same. rllhe lever 31 extends rearwardly somewhat beyond the link 36 and the plate 35, and to the rear extremity of the lever, l. pivotally attach the upper end of a rod 37 which depends into a tubular casing SSerected upon the iioor of the store` room immediatelyl adjacent the chute 16, as will be readily understood. lNithin the casing- 88, the rod` 37 is attached to a piston 39 and between the said piston and the bottom ofthe casing 38 is 'a coiled spring 40 which acts upon the piston to normally hold f the same in a raised position. A. cable 41 is attached to the said piston 39 andextends therefrom through the floor of the store room and then under the floor to a point below the cashiers desk whence it kpasses upwardly to said desk where it may be manipulated. It will be understood, of course, that the cable il passes over suitable guide pulleys and that a cable is provided for each delivery chute so that' the.v

discharge from each chute will be controlled at the cashiers desk. lThe upper portion of the delivery chute has a hinged bottom ywhich may be swung downwardly, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, to permit.

the articles to be readily placed in the chute. A cable 43 is attached to the upper end of this hinged bottom 42 yand extends over a guide pulley lil upon the ceiling` of the store room and Athence downwardly to the cashiers desk. lt will be readily understood that, when the articles are ready to be placed in the delivery chute, the cable 43 1s released so that the swinging-,bottom or door-4t2 may assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. rlhe articles are then placed upon said door with spacers 29 between each two bundles or articles afterA lwhich the door is returned to its initial position and the bundles and spacers will slide downwardly through the chute until the foremost article reaches the cutoi plate or valve 32. When a sale has beenmade by the transmission of the proper money the cashier, will pull upon the proper cable il and thereby rock the lever 3l so that the eutoil' plate or valve 32 will be raised and the valve 35 simultaneously lowered. The lifting of the valve will. obviously permit the .bundles and spacers to again gra vitate through `the chute so that the foremost vbli'iidi'e will :pass Aonto the shelf 14 .where it may-'be Withdrawn by' the customer. Tliedownivard movement oi"r4 the second ,bundle,^h'owever1, .is tempo-` rarily arrested byftheloivering of the upper platefor'valve ,35 into it'srpaili7 as Will be readilyundersto'od. vupon reference toy the dotted linesin `Fig.` 2f. lheii'the rst bundle has been Withdrawn7 V"the cashier releases the cable 4l whereuponl the spriiigi40 'will at once return the parts tothenormal position7 permitting-the second bundle to pass to the forward ciitolvinf.an' obvious manner. v

The merchandise displayediior salve is'arranged upon :shelves 45 "carried by` cases 4-6 Whichare mounted upon'rollers 47 sothatv they may be easily shifted as ymay. be desirechV suitable cards.-,ta'gsvv or labels being' provided 'upon eacli slielltoi announce the prices oiv the displayed articles. i The rollers 4'?V are low but havelwvide tread surfaces so that they Will supportthe-several show eases orfslielves in a stable manner. To add to the stability of the display,.'eacli"showl case or set of shelves :fis equipped near :its bottomivithswinging hooks 48 adapted to engage eyes 49y on the licor-Lof the lstore room and thereby prevent accidental shifting of the furniture;

and congestion in the aisles thereby relieved" To further relieve congestion, I provide a supplemental cashiers desk() at they rear end oi the hall deiined between the partition l0 and the adjacent side ofthe sales room, some of the cases `46 extending from the-end oic the partition l() parallel with the adjacent, Lside Wall of the store room to a` point near the said desk 50. A cage 5l 'may be'pro-- vided around the desk 50to prevent interference 'with the Workof'the attendant and a gate 52 is provided.betweenthe desk and the adjacent showcase 46 to Vcut ofi or retard the passage of customers past said desk. A guard 53 is also provided parallel With the desk and extending rearwardly from tlie gate 52 so that customers Will be obliged'to pass close to the desk() When seeking to,

utilize the eXit 52.

yReserve stock may be kept in a stock room f in rear of the' store room, or a plurality o' trucksl 61 may be provided in the' space betweenv the show cases 46 and the rear Wall orf-v the store room to carry reserve stock ordisplay goodsivhich are'ordinarily displayed in baskets orsimilar '.'containers lrlliese trucks may be readily moved'about` "from "l so that aisles j will'V be ;p1"o.

Whicligoustomers may circulate' andobtain` y View oall thefmerohandise `oileredior their 1;1 selection.; U

be' engagedl by thehook-terminals' 55' foll a traokrod orlraiil V56 entendiiigloiigitiidiiiallyjA l "0f th@ ShOW Cua-S93' gfroiv of fshoiv eases in 'spacedy relation: theret o Y* lengaged by*` af "roller 67 t .ick is astandard `or frame 58 yrising"iii-e111.agstepped platiorm'j 15.9 equipped Witlr.y casters .or rollers `60, fivhereby'it may ,be e'asilylfmevedoveij the floor othefstore .rooinl dren oripersonsx olijlo stat -j y aid of this stepped-'platform or` reach the'farticles' uponftlie upper l shelves;-`

Fromithe foregoing.@description'taken in,

connection With the accompanyin drawings, itfvvill be ,seentliat have pi inf which the; overli earl f'ex'pens materially (reduced j `by ALmakin unnecessary the einploymeiitof` a large'nuiiiber of''clerksl y andt salesmen inasmuchrffas y the. customersmay serve themselves. ln the?practicefor-1yy my invention congestion Withintlie. ,store is reduced .tongaminimum",Linasinucli; asf-l i provide two exits at themainfsettlement;sta;.

tion and alsoipiiovidefan alii iarylsettlement station atI the Qrear'oj the.y storeroom.xrifomf i which afseparatexpassage leads to; 'the Iiiain-fy kentrance andfexit.- Further, [asa series ofi y sales Windows' extend-across the front ofthe f building (from which `customers' may' be i' served Withoutv being required" to `ve`iii`1t 5rL the building, la arremete, 0i waarnemer" -be served' rapidlya'nd easily and ivitlioutfin'- y `'terferijiig yvvitli 4or ,blockingv tliewayuof cus,- Y

tomers who may contemplate a more {e} tended list of purchases. lt isvto be lnoted especially tliatthe show cases or shelves are all portable or Imountedv on rollers so-that l 'the merchandise to be displayedgmay lhe arranged in units and anyl one'unit' may lie .changed Without requiring shifting `f or lother units and as the stock'iii l'one `unit isl l depleted by 'selections thereiromya"complete` filled unit may be' substituted-thereforby-f y merely removing i the depleted lunit vand* rolling into its place a previously prepared'fullr` unit..l Moreover, in the eventof fire, or other i. panic-creating 'eLr'iergenCyl the `plurality of,

exits provided in the partition 4`a'vjvill :iper- 'mit the customers.fand-attendantsto very 125. quickly leave the store roomnlifl `ffilsof'v ll i permit the shelves orshoyv cases to be read ily rolled out of theHbuildiiifi'.` ,i

Having tliiis described.' `the.I 4inventiom what is claimedas nevviis;

point :toj` vpointf-softliatI `asgst'oclr. iipo'nptlie ff shelves isgdepletedz, ir'eshv stock may beradded thereto.l l ftlu'fillbe l i'eadily'f noted tthat' the'` showcases ,46 'are arranger .in parallel elite'ndiirg longitudinally.

I lgifproq videeyesor similar devices l54"ivfhic areivto .i

t the Y' upperrtenil of lISD l. ln a.store,a` store room having a series 'of sales windows extending along its front wall, merchandise display members arranged within the store room, a settlement station disposed between the sales windows and the merchandise holders, meansy controlled at the settlement station tor v,delivering merchandise at the sales windows, and means Aoperable at the sales windows to transmit payment for `purchases to the settlement desk. i i

2; ln astore, a store room having` ya series of sales windows extending across its front end7 a controlling station within rthe store room, chutes extending from said station to the sales windows through which articles et merchandisemay pass from the said station to the sales windows, valves mounted in said chutes to control the discharge of articles 'from the chutes, and means whereby said valves may be operated from the said station. 1

i ln a store, astore roomhavin'ga seriesy oit sales windows extending across its front end, a controlling station within the store room, delivery chiites extending from said station to the sales windows, the upper portions of said chutes having downwardly swinging bottoms, means controlled at the said station for operating said hinged bottom and holding it normally in raised position, and means operable from said station to control vthe passage of articles through the chutes. y

4; ln a store, a store room having a series of sales windows extending across its front end', a-rcontrolling station within the store ,een

rcom, delivery chutes extending from said l station to the sales windows,-alever mounted for rocking movement upon each chute, cuto plates depending Vfrom the said lever at opposite sides of its ulcrum kinto the chute, andl operating` means extending, from said lever to the controlling'- station.

i 5. In a store, la store room having a series of sales windows extending across its front end, a 'controlling station within the store room, means operable at said station to deliver goods at the saleswindows, movable tracks supported within Athe store room the controlling` station, a. `flanged roller disf posed between the upperandy lower track members and arranged to travel alongy the same and be guided thereby, a container hung upon said roller,` and means vtor tilting the track whereby the roller and the container hun@` thereon will be caused to gravi- 'tate between the controlling station and the sales window.

in testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HASTlNG- P. HOVARD. [n s] 

